Consumed

"I'm actually crazy for spending my time on such a small inconvenience," he adds. "But somebody has to do it. And it's something that the general public seems to want. The reason it's this way is because the liquor stores want it that way, and they're the ones with lobbyists at the State Capitol."

Both Governor Bill Owens's office and the state's liquor-enforcement division declined to comment on Harrison's initiative, because it's a pending legal matter. Some representatives of Colorado's brewing interests also declined to comment: "Our position is that we have no position," says Steve Findley, speaking for the Colorado Beer Distributors Association. But a few craft brewers recognize that lifting the ban would have some benefits: Not only would retailers be able to sell their beers on Sunday, but brewpubs might regain their ability to fill growlers on Sundays.

And at least a few retailers see Sunday sales as a good thing. "It's another weekend day," says Duey Kratzer, owner of Mondo Vino, a wine store in northwest Denver. "It definitely would help, and I'd like to at least have the option." In fact, if he had a choice, Kratzer says he'd rather close his store on Monday and work on the Sabbath.

A Sunday ban makes sense "if your preacher or mother tells you that," Harrison says. "But it doesn't make sense if your government tells you that. Because we are the government."

Still, some retailers have taken the high-and-mighty road. "How much sense does that make if the liquor industry says they're trying to be moral by not selling it on Sunday?" Harrison wonders. "The rest of the week they don't care?" And the same question could be asked of Colorado's elected officials, he adds. "They trust us the other six days," he notes. "I don't see why they don't trust us the seventh day."